GTYL Conference calls for international mechanism to secure justice for Tamils

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2012, 04:52 GMT]The second annual conference of the Global Tamil Youth League held on 7th and 8th April in the UK passed resolutions calling for an independent, international accountability mechanism into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Sri Lankan state and to advocate against the genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation. Emphasising that Tamil sovereignty is the only meaningful expression of self-determination for the Tamil nation in their historic homeland and the only guarantee against genocide, Krisna Saravanamuttu of the NCCT, a participant in the conference, told TamilNet "At a time when powers are trying to manipulate the diaspora to arrive at a settlement within a unitary Sri Lanka, the Tamil Sovereignty Cognition declaration provides a principled ideological and conceptual reference point for Eezham Tamil youth across the world in our struggle for national liberation."

Krisna Saravanamuttu

Referring to the unanimous adoption of the Tamil Sovereignty Cognition declaration by Tamil youth activists in Canada at the ‘Eelam Tamil Youth Conference – Canada 2012’, Mr. Saravanamuttu encouraged Tamil student activists around the world to take a bold and decisive step by adopting the Tamil Sovereignty Cognition as the ideological basis for their activism.

The GTYL resolution was adopted by member organisations from Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the UK and endorsed by organisations from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States of America.

The full text of the GTYL resolution follows:

Whereas the Tamil people have historically inhabited Tamil Eelam, the North-East of the island of Sri Lanka, as their traditional homeland; and

Whereas the Tamil people are distinguished from other people living in the island by their unique language, culture, traditions and history; and

Whereas for over sixty years the Sinhala Buddhist ideology of the Sri Lankan state is destroying the economic existence, the political and social institutions, and the demographic and territorial basis of the Tamil national identity; and

Whereas the Tamil people have been historically marginalised in language, education and citizenship and suffered state-orchestrated pogroms; and

Whereas these practices have been continuing for over sixty years in a systematic, intentional and targeted manner, constituting the genocide of the Tamil nation; and

Whereas the Tamil nation called for an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam in 1977, and reaffirmed this in 2009 and 2010, based on the principles of the Vaddukkoddai Resolution of 1976; and

Whereas the Sri Lankan state cannot provide meaningful accountability or justice into the grave violations of international humanitarian law during the last phase of the armed conflict, through a domestic inquiry; and

Whereas in order to move forward with a meaningful advancement for the Tamil youth it is vital to preserve the Eelam Tamil identity and remember its history; and therefore

Be It Resolved that the Global Tamil Youth League calls for the establishment of an independent, international mechanism to ensure truth, accountability and justice.

Be it Resolved that the Global Tamil Youth League will work to achieve a political solution that recognises the uncompromising, fundamental principles of the Tamil freedom struggle; namely: recognition of the Tamil homeland, the recognition of the Tamil people as a distinct nation; recognition of the right to self determination of the Tamil nation.

Be It Resolved that the Global Tamil Youth League will work to raise awareness about the ongoing multi-faceted genocide unleashed on the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan state.

Be It Resolved that the Global Tamil Youth League will promote the identity of the Tamil nation by working to protect, foster and create awareness about the history and sacrifices of our martyrs, the national flag of Tamil Eelam, the national symbols of Tamil Eelam, our social, political and cultural symbols and national festivals associated with our rich heritage and history.